Laguna Kaan Luum – Complete Guide To Visiting
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Laguna Kaan Luum is a gorgeous open-air cenote located just 20 minutes outside of Tulum. It’s the perfect place to spend a relaxing day in Tulum, keep reading for my complete guide to visiting the Lagoon: How to get there, how much it costs to visit, and what to expect!
All About Laguna Kaan Luum
Kaan Luum Lagoon (also called Laguna Kaan Luum) is a gigantic open-air cenote 20 minutes outside of Tulum.
Laguna Kaan Luum is increasingly popular with locals and tourists alike, especially as Sargassum seaweed wreaks havoc on Tulum’s beaches.
This freshwater lagoon has no seaweed, is a perfect blue color all year round, and only has two depths, shallow and super-deep.
From above you can see the clear delineation where Laguna Kaan Luum goes from being about 4 ft deep to quickly plummeting to depths of more than 80 meters.
Because of its astonishing depth, Laguna Kaan Luum is very popular with scuba divers. If you’re not into scuba diving, Laguna Kaan Luum is also a perfect place to spend a lazy day in the Mayan Riviera.
What is a Cenote?
Cenote (seh-NOH-tay) literally means “sinkhole” in Mayan. These sinkholes, which started out as water sources and places for sacred offerings for the Mayans, have in recent years developed into freshwater swimming spots for tourists and locals alike.
Sometimes Cenotes are completely underground, sometimes they’re half in a cave, and sometimes they’re entirely above ground. Cenotes that are 100% above ground are sometimes called lagoons.
There are over 2,000 Cenotes in the Mayan Riviera, and more are being discovered every day.
Cenotes are a natural geological marvel that is only found in the Yucatán Peninsula, and a must-see if you’re planning a trip to Quintana Roo.
Is Laguna Kaan Luum dangerous?
Laguna Kaan Luum is not dangerous and is actually a much safer place to swim than the beach.
This is because 80% of Laguna Kaan Luum is extremely shallow, only averaging around 3 ft or 1 meter in depth.
In the center of Laguna Kaan Luum, there is a sinkhole that is incredibly deep, 80 meters at its lowest point, but swimmers are forbidden in that area and it’s roped off.
Its shallow depth coupled with the fact that there is no tide or waves at Laguna Kaan Luum makes it the perfect place to visit for people who aren’t especially confident in their swimming ability, and a much safer destination than the beach!
💡 Tip! If you’re worried about the safety of swimming in Cenotes, open-air ones like Laguna Kaan Luum are actually a better choice!
Is Laguna Kaan Luum safe to visit with kids?
Yes! There are lots of families with small children at Laguna Kaan Luum.
It’s safer to visit the lagoon with children than the beach because 80% of it is very shallow, with the deep section roped off.
There is also no tide or waves in the lagoon, making it a very safe spot for kids to swim.
But, if you don’t know how to swim it’s still best to wear a life jacket!
How to get to Laguna Kaan Luum
You won’t need to arrange a Cenote tour in Tulum to reach Laguna Kaan Luum, in fact, I recommend not visiting it via a guided tour.
It’s easy enough to reach on its own, and it’s a nice place to spend a half-day relaxing without the stress of having to visit multiple locations.
Laguna Kaan Luum is an easy cenote to reach because it’s right outside of Tulum, which is a major transportation hub, and it’s right off Highway 307, which is the main road in the Mayan Riviera.
Via Taxi
You can take a cab from Tulum center, which is what we did, but they do not have cabs waiting at the exit for when you leave.
We wound up hailing a Colectivo (shared taxi) off the main road, Highway 307, that the entrance to the Lagoon is on.
Alternatively, you can arrange for a cab driver to wait for you while you swim, but that will probably be very expensive.
If possible, it’s best to drive yourself to Laguna Kaan Luum.
💡 Tip! There is no Uber in Tulum due to the Mexican Taxi Mafia pushing ride-hailing apps out of popular tourist zones, so expect to have to haggle for your ride!
Via Public Transportation
Coming from Tulum:
you can hop a Colectivo on Highway 307 (the main street in Tulum) going in the direction of Chetumal for 35 pesos which will drop you off near the lagoon.
Coming from Cancun or Playa del Carmen:
You’ll have to transfer in Tulum to take public transit to Laguna Kaan Luum coming from Cancun or Playa.
Via Car, Taxi, or Scooter.
Coming from Tulum a Taxi would be around $250 pesos to Laguna Kaan Luum, and from Playa, it would be around 700 ($35).
Laguna Kaan Luum is 20 minutes from Tulum Center, 1 hour from Playa del Carmen, and 2.5 hours from Cancun.
It’s close enough from Tulum Center to scooter to easily.
Via Biking
Laguna Kaan luum is only around 40 minutes from Tulum Centro via biking. It’s a straight shot down Highway 307, which is the main road in Tulum, so it’s also an easy bike ride.
Laguna Kaan Luum is probably the furthest cenote from Tulum I would recommend traveling to by bike since even short distances can feel longer due to the heat and sun.
Before I learned how to ride a scooter, I traveled by biking in Tulum.
Laguna Kaan Luum: Information
Address: laguna kaan luum, 77760 Tulum, Q.R., Mexico
Hours: 9 AM – 4 PM Every Day
Laguna Kaan Luum: Price
Laguna Kaan Luum is quite pricey as far as cenotes go – It’s 200 pesos for Mexican citizens and 300 pesos ($15) entrance fee for everyone else.
They don’t charge for photos/video/GoPro like some cenotes do but they do charge 150 pesos to use a drone.
It’s touch and go if they’re offering Kayak/Paddleboard rentals but last I checked they were and it’s 120 pesos/hour, but if you want to bring your own it’s an additional 150 pesos fee, so it’s cheaper to just rent one there.
💡 Note: Laguna Kaan Luum is cash-only!
Food and drinks at Laguna Kaan Luum
When I went there was a cafe but it was only selling beer – the Lagoon is definitely a popular Darty (day party) spot with locals and tourists alike so there are lots of people drinking Cervesas and having fun.
I would recommend bringing your own food and water, most people bring picnics and just camp out for the whole day.
💡 Tip: There are signs all over Laguna Kaan Luum that say “no food and drinks” which are completely disregarded.
Tips for Visiting Laguna Kaan Luum
Laguna Kaan Luum is a pretty easy place to visit in the Mayan Riviera, but here are a few insider tips to make sure you have the best time possible:
✔️ Pack a picnic lunch.
✔️ Make sure to bring lots of water because they weren’t selling any on-site when I went.
✔️ Bring your own beach towel since none are provided at the location.
✔️ Don’t depend on the scammy taxi drivers at the Lagoon to get back to Tulum. (They tried to charge us 600 Pesos for the 10-minute drive back to town!) I recommend taking a Colectivo or arranging your own transportation beforehand.
✔️ Remember, Laguna Kaan Luum is cash-only!
✔️ Make sure to bring sunscreen, hats, sunglasses, etc, there’s very little shade at Laguna Kaan Luum! It’s highly recommended you wear only reef-safe sunscreen in Cenotes to protect their delicate eco-system.
✔️ Even though Laguna Kaan Luum is right outside of Tulum, for some reason there is no cell service there.
✔️ If you’re a diver, remember to book your dive ahead of time!
Laguna Kaan Luum: FAQs
Are there crocodiles in Laguna Kaan Luum?
While it’s possible for there to be crocodiles in any body of freshwater in the Mayan Riviera, it is extremely unlikely for there to be a crocodile in any of the cenotes. This is because crocodiles prefer large bodies of water, and cenotes are usually comparatively small.
Crocodiles are also mostly nocturnal animals and should pose little to no risk to swimmers in the daytime even if there is one in the area.
What is the depth of Laguna Kaan Luum?
At the deepest part of the sinkhole in the center of Laguna Kaan Luum, it is approximately 262 feet or 80 meters.
Is Laguna Kaan Luum a cenote?
Laguna Kaan Luum is a cenote, although it looks like a lake to the naked eye. Kaan Luum is a “laguna” which is another word for a completely open-air cenote.
It’s believed that these Lagunas used to be in caves like other cenotes, and over the millennia, the cave roof fell in and formed an open-air cenote.
Do you need to book in advance to visit Laguna Kaan Luum?
Nope! Laguna Kaan Luum does not accept prior bookings unless you’re visiting with a tour.
Laguna Kaan Luum: Conclusion
I hope this guide helps you visit Laguna Kaan Luum on your next trip to the Mayan Riviera!
The water is only a few feet deep and there are hammocks and swings for people to lounge about on, which makes Laguna Kaan Luum the perfect relaxation spot in Tulum.
Heading to Mexico?
If you’re planning a trip to Mexico and looking for more information, consider reading some of my other posts:
- Guide to buying & renting bikes in Tulum
- Complete Guide to Living in Tulum as an Expat
- Is Tulum Worth Visiting? 5 Reasons Why
- Guide to the Best Cenote Tours from Tulum
- How to swim with the Turtles in Akumal
- Guide to Using Uber in Tulum
- Cenote Aldea Zama – The Only FREE Cenote in Tulum
- All About Laguna Kaan Luum in Tulum
- Best Street Food in Oaxaca
- How to Not Get Scammed by the Mexican Taxi Mafia
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